You face a felony driving under the influence (DUI) charge and have no idea what to do next. Get a Costa Mesa felony DUI lawyer on your side. Your attorney will explain your legal options. They can help you avoid severe penalties.
Los Angeles DUI Lawyer has served thousands of clients. We can connect you with a Costa Mesa DUI lawyer who knows how difficult it is to contest a DUI charge. Your attorney will protect your legal rights and best interests throughout your litigation.
Why Should You Hire a Lawyer if You Are Dealing With a Felony DUI Charge?
Your Costa Mesa felony DUI attorney understands the legal system. They will teach you about the short- and long-term consequences that come with a California felony DUI conviction. Your lawyer builds a case that makes it tough for a prosecutor to prove that a conviction is warranted.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, your lawyer could negotiate a DUI plea bargain on your behalf. If you accept a plea deal, your felony DUI can be reduced to a misdemeanor. Alternatively, if a plea agreement is unavailable, your lawyer gets you ready for your trial. They gather evidence to support your case and craft an argument that will resonate with the court.
Remember, you have the right to get legal help if you have been charged with driving under the influence. Los Angeles DUI Lawyer can put you in touch with an attorney who will help you decide what to do after your driving under the influence arrest and fight for your freedom and your future.
Costa Mesa Felony DUI Penalties You Need to Know
In California, driving under the influence is treated as a felony if it is a person’s fourth DUI within 10 years, if they were convicted of a felony DUI previously, or if they cause someone to get hurt or killed.
You can be sentenced to up to three years in jail if this is your fourth DUI in 10 years or if you received a felony DUI conviction in the past. Per California Vehicle Code 23153, if you are convicted of a DUI in which someone is injured, you can be required to spend a maximum of four years in jail. If a DUI is fatal, you can receive a lifetime prison sentence.
Outside of these penalties, the court can fine you up to $10,000 if you are convicted of felony driving under the influence. In addition, you are subject to a suspension of your driver’s license, installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) for at least one year, and other penalties.
How to Defend Against a Felony DUI Conviction
Hire a felony DUI lawyer serving Costa Mesa within days of your arrest. Your attorney considers the facts of your case and how the prosecution will present their argument. They will evaluate various DUI strategies, such as:
Disputing Your Traffic Stop
A police officer must have reasonable suspicion that you are driving your car while intoxicated or have committed a traffic violation before they can pull your vehicle over. Your attorney can challenge your traffic stop and why it happened in the first place. If they succeed, the court will have serious doubts about whether to convict you.
Showing That a Field Sobriety Test (FST) Was Not Administered Properly
The police do not give you full instructions on how to complete a field sobriety test or do not administer all required components of the FST, leading to inaccurate results. Your lawyer can argue that this test was not performed according to the law. This could prompt the court to suppress evidence and weaken the prosecution’s case.
Highlighting How Your Medical Condition Impacted Your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
Diabetes or another medical condition can cause a breath test device to incorrectly rate you as having a high BAC. Prior to your trial, your attorney can discuss how diabetes, a low-carb diet, or ketosis can be used as a California DUI defense. They may use medical records and other evidence to prove to the court that your medical condition led to a false reading on a breath test.
Ideally, your felony DUI attorney serving Costa Mesa collects a wide range of evidence and is well-equipped to poke holes in the prosecution’s argument. At this point, they will execute their legal strategy, which may compel the court to drop your felony DUI to a misdemeanor or dismiss your case.
Ask for Help from a Costa Mesa, CA Felony DUI Lawyer
It is overwhelming to deal with the ramifications of a felony driving under the influence arrest alone. Meet with a Costa Mesa, CA felony DUI attorney immediately after your arrest. From here, your lawyer helps you make informed decisions as the legal process moves forward.
Trust Los Angeles DUI Lawyer to help you find a driving under the influence attorney who will serve as your legal advocate and representative. Your attorney will look for ways to disprove the prosecution’s argument and position you to achieve your desired case outcome.
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